The long-time broadcaster, at one time with NBC’s Today Show and most recently of HBO’s Real Sports, has made hateful and disturbing comments before but he may have hit a new low on the latter program Tuesday.

Bryant Gumbel

Gumbel may be clearly in the players’ corner when it comes to the NBA labor impasse, but he instead took his comments to a hateful and disgusting level.

“Stern’s version of what has been going on behind closed doors has of course been disputed, but his efforts were typical of a commissioner who has always seemed eager to be viewed as some kind of modern plantation overseer, treating NBA men as if they were his boys,” he said. “It’s part of Stern’s M.O., like his past self-serving edicts on dress code or the questioning of officials. His moves were intended to do little more than show how he’s the one keeping the hired hands in their place.”

Gumbel has put me in an uncomfortable position here, having to back Stern.

I have not been a fan of the NBA commissioner’s work in recent years because as he has grown the game overseas I felt it was rotting in the states due to low-scoring, boring contests.

But calling Stern a racist is patently unfair and Gumbel should apologize immediately and step down from his latest cushy gig.

About Matt Aug

Matt Aug has been a reporter, writer and editor for over two decades and has been published by USA Today, Newsday and NFL.com. Matt watched black and white television growing up and was around before HBO began!

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I have been in journalism for over to decades ... which makes me, well, old! Seriously, I have been blessed to have worked for publications such as USA Today, Newsday and nfl.com and I am excited to have this opportunity to blog about television for beliefnet.